After a corporate downsizing, this entrepreneur decided the time was right to launch a Wisconsin franchise with strong growth potential, as well as community appeal.
Even in a strong economy, industry sectors can still experience upheavals that lead to layoffs. After more than a decade working on supply-chain initiatives for a manufacturing enterprise, Chad Sutkay found himself suddenly in the job market. After assessing employment opportunities, he realized that more of the same wasn’t for him.
He changed course by studying many franchise brands and examining his own goals and desires, eventually deciding that owning and operating a Touching Hearts at Home in-home senior care franchise was the direction he wanted to take. Now he is in the process of getting up and running in Franklin, Wisconsin, and he is very excited about what the future holds.
How did you find out about Touching Hearts at Home?
I had done some research on senior care in general for a job interview I’d had, so my interest already was piqued in that area and the growth and opportunities there. When I began looking at franchises, I narrowed it pretty quickly to that area. From there, I became familiar with Touching Hearts at Home.
What about Touching Hearts was appealing to you?
My wife has a background in home-health care, and she’s a stay-at-home mom, so we liked the idea of having a franchise that specialized in non-medical home health care. Touching Hearts combines my business background and her medical and patient-care background nicely. I also was drawn to the approach of companionship, lighter-duty focus of service, and the vast runway the industry has. The need is growing rapidly, and it appears Touching Hearts at Home has a great spot in the industry to grow with the need
I also have a side business doing home remodeling, and it doesn’t interfere with that. Since we can run the business from home, at least in the beginning, it’s something we can do together as a family. We have a passion for serving others and would like to align our passions, our purpose, and our profits.
How has the Touching Hearts corporate team supported you?
They engaged with us almost immediately. I reached out to five franchises for information, and Scott Kummel, Vice President of Franchise Development, was on the phone to us right away. We started a conversation that really hasn’t ever stopped. Everyone there has given us insights and shared their passion, and we really appreciate how real and genuine everyone is. They never came to us just spitting out lines, so we would buy a franchise.
Since those early days, everyone has been at our disposal, which is encouraging. We met everyone in person and have established a really strong relationship. We have weekly calls, and we get all the guidance and help we need.
How is the ramping-up process going?
Things are moving along pretty quickly. Wisconsin doesn’t have a licensing requirement, so we haven’t had to deal with that process. We’ve been busy getting our other state paperwork for incorporation and other things done, setting up our home office, and just getting ready to operate a Wisconsin franchise.
Now we’re getting help from the Touching Hearts team to reach out to warm contacts, set up meetings and begin networking. Next will be assessing clients and hiring staff. We’ve set some milepost goals for a year, and then for the second year, in terms of where we want to be, as far as client load, staff levels and income. We are new to this, so we know a lot of the early period is going to be about really learning how the business works and making sure we are providing great support to our clients.
What is owning your own business already doing for you?
We’re already so happy we’re doing this. We are actually neighbors with one of the very first Touching Hearts owners, so we’ve gotten a lot of support and encouragement from him. We’ve gone all in on this and feel like we’re going to succeed if we follow the great system that the Touching Hearts team has developed. There’s no reason you can’t establish a solid client base, and as long as you can find and keep good staff, there’s no reason you can’t do well with a Touching Hearts at Home franchise.
Now is the time to join the Touching Hearts at Home franchise family. We are a pioneer in the non-medical, in-home senior care industry. We anticipate rapid growth for our company as the Baby Boomer population ages. A Touching Hearts at Home franchise business is an opportunity to make a living doing meaningful work.
Learn more about a Touching Hearts at Home franchise
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